Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Pumpkinhead

Man, Dog Reunited After Shelter Mix-Up
Mount Juliet Woman Adopted Dog, Called Owner
Reported By Tressa Bush
September 18, 2007


Gary Neal said his dog, Pumpkinhead, ran away on July 21 and was missing for almost seven weeks.

According to records, Pumpkinhead was picked up by Animal Control on July 22, but Neal said when he called the Sumner County Animal Shelter, he was told they had no dog that matched the description that he gave.

“I though I’d never be able to see him again,” Neal said.

But last Thursday, Neal said he got a phone call from a Mount Juliet woman who said she adopted Pumpkinhead from the Sumner County Shelter on Aug. 10.

She said she wanted to return the animal because he seemed so sad.

Neal said he just can't understand how this sort of thing happened because Pumpkinhead was wearing his identification tag when he was picked up.

Neal said when Pumpkinhead went missing, he was wearing three tags on which his phone number was engraved.

He was confused that if the woman found the tags, why didn’t the shelter?

The shelter's records show that only one tag was registered and that workers made two calls to the number on it. The records indicate they left a message once and that there was no answer the second time.

Documents show the officer that took Pumpkinhead to the shelter listed him as a terrier, not a poodle mix which may be one reason for the mix-up.

Neal said he harbored no hard feelings for anyone, but offered some advice to other pet owners: “If you get a dog that gets loose, make sure you go there. Don't take their word for it. Go and you make sure you ask the questions and you visually see the dog.”

The shelter's director did not return phone calls made for an interview.

Source: http://www.wsmv.com/news/14142731/detail.html#

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